Got about a mile warmup for the 3200, I was still half asleep at the start line. First lap was an 82 and second lap the pace was too slow so I took control of the pack. Then just relaxed and tried to stay focused. I wonder what would have happened had I chased Lucy down, she wasn't that far ahead. But I was too intimidated to try and wanted to stay even. Mile split was 5:37, a bit slow for what I wanted. Then I slipped and last 400 got passed by a ton of people. Okay just a few but it felt like a ton. I just don't think I cared enough. I was thinking negatively. 11:32.
Very disappointed I cooled down a half mile. Warmed up a mile and strides (it was so hot we didn't need much warmup.) I got out slower, thought I was going too slow (it's such a change to go from 3200 to 800). First minute or so I sort of warmed into it. First lap was a 70. Then felt good so I tried to start a longer kick. 200 left a coach yelled to his athlete to "catch her. You're a kicker and she's not." I can only assume he was talking about me, it's well known I have a terrible kick. Well I tried to prove him wrong. I started picking it up and 100 Mary's sister came up on me. I fought her as hard as I could for 80 meters. 20 meters of it could have been harder. She does have a better kick but I was happy I fought. 2:23, new PR!
Warmed up another mile or so. Practiced handoffs and did strides. Then sat down to put on my spikes, stood up and all of a sudden my hip hurt like it needed to pop. Tried to but it didn't help. Bill showed me stretched. Didn't help. Massaged it, helped a little. Leg swings, that just hurt it. Strides just hurt and I limped along. Emma got the baton for the 400 and I felt so bad, came to Bill almost in tears and told him I couldn't race. He said "serious?" I knew we wanted to qualify for state. I felt so awful thinking about how Brooke, Ellie and Emma would be so disappointed when I didn't run. So I said a quick prayer that my hip would miraculously feel better, crossed my fingers and tried one last stride. It still hurt but not quite as bad and didn't limp so much. So I decided I'd try it and if I had to drop out fine.
Emma gave me the baton in 2nd I think, just ahead of 3rd. Mary had a good gap and I started to close it. Either I was going too fast or she too slow. Relaxed and passed her 200 in? Then 400 left tried to pick it up again. 200 left even more. 100 left still in the lead but Mary not so far behind me. She swung and outkicked me. Bill said my split was 2:25 so I was happy with it, and we qualified with a low 4:25, standard was a higher 4:25. And my hip only hurt the first couple steps. Miracles do happen!
Cooled down a mile and a half.
Did a 3 mile shakeout from the condo. Found a fun dirt area to run, saw a steep hill where a view at the top looked promising. It was a beautiful view from the one side of the dirt area with the setting sun, wondered if maybe it would be a cool view from the top of the hill. Unfortunately I misjudged how long it was. It's gonna be fun to explore on Monday! Hip hurt for the first half mile but warmed up. I'll just pay special attention to it and it'll be fine.
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